A September to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table (Book Three) – Lombardy, Tuscany, Campania, Apulia, and Lazio (Roma) (Savoring the Olde Ways Series, 3) by Carole Bumpus
Publisher: She Writes Press (April 27, 2021)
Category: Culinary/Travel Memoir & Non-Fiction
ISBN: 978-1631527272
Available in Print and ebook, 245 pages
Description
This culinary travel memoir is an invitation to join in on a month-long trek through Italy, all in the search of the true Italian experience. Sprinkled with unforgettable characters, you will sup on sumptuous traditional foods, sip regional wines, and enjoy vast panoramas of extraordinary beauty. You may find yourself dancing at harvest festivals, climbing through Etruscan tombs, traipsing among Roman ruins, or bathing in ancient Roman termes (hot springs).
You may also enjoy climbing to the heights of wonder in Capri or to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica. Or delight in soaking up the ancient and cultural history in Milan, Firenze (Florence), Amalfi, Pompeii, Lecce and Rome. You can bask in the sun and rugged beauty of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Adriatic Sea, or the gorgeous Amalfi Coast. Or you can chat for hours over family meals while collecting a compendium of regional and traditional recipes (cucina povera), while you capture a rare glimpse inside the secrets to the Mediterranean psyche. It is truly a trip of a lifetime.
Guest Review by Sage
Over 20 years ago, Carole Bumpus and her husband, Winston, took a trip to Italy. The couple toured much of the country, starting in Milan and going on to see Tuscany, Campania, Apulia and Lazio (which includes the capital city of Rome).
Although this vacation took place in 1998, Carole and her husband still look back on it fondly and now, all this time later, Carole has created a chronicle of this trip in her memoir, ‘A September to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table.’
It is safe to say that this book took me by surprise. I’m not all that knowledgeable about Italy or Italian history so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much, but I definitely did! Bumpus has a way with words that is truly captivating and she made me feel as though I was on this vacation with her, standing in a museum in Rome or a vineyard in Poderi. The beautiful small villages she saw and the warm and inviting people that she met were probably my favorite part of this memoir. It’s obvious that this was an unforgettable trip, and I can fully understand why she felt the need to document it all this time later.
‘A September To Remember’ transcends the genre of memoir and even of travel memoirs, by adding several elements that bring so much more to the book. For starters, Bumpus has included several recipes that she collected during her time in Italy. From Risotto al Pescatore to Caprese Salad there is something for everyone in this section of the book. Even if you generally aren’t a fan of Italian food, I recommend giving some of these recipes a shot. You won’t regret it!
Between this and the rich courses on Italian history, I had such an all-encompassing experience with this book that I had trouble putting it down!
5 yummy stars for this one!
About the Author
Multi award winning author, Carole Bumpus is a retired family therapist, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began writing about food and travel when she stumbled upon the amazing stories of women and war in France. Her historical novel, A Cup of Redemption, was published in October 2014, and her unique companion cookbook, Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption, was released in August 2015.
Books One and Two of her Savoring the Olde Ways series, Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table, were published in August 2019 and 2020; her third book in the series, A September to Remember: Searching for Culinary Pleasures at the Italian Table is due out April 27, 2021. All five books have been published by She Writes Press which is part of SparkPoint Studio, LLC.
Website: https://carolebumpus.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/carolejbumpus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaroleBumpus
Instagram: https://instagram.com/carole.bumpus/
Giveaway
This giveaway is for 3 copies of ‘A September To Remember’, one copy per winner. This giveaway is open to Canada and the U.S. only and ends on June 1, 2021. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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Advance Praise
“A cultural and gastronomic tour through Italy by train, car, and ferry with culinary delights at every turn…Elaborate descriptions of almost every meal and snack turn this compelling travel book into an enjoyable vicarious experience…A joyous book of Italian history, traditions, and food that’s worth savoring.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Carole Bumpus’s culinary travelogue A September to Remember is written in the inviting voice of a learner. [Her] exploration as an American abroad will draw in those who hunger for travel as much as they hunger for flavor. For Bumpus, appreciating food requires a strong sense of people and place; in fact, she regards food and culture as inseparable….Bumpus embraces authenticity over simplicity, encouraging cooks to rise to the challenge. A September to Remember is a food narrative that brings the heart of Italy to tables around the world.”—Foreword Reviews
“…here, as in other places, [Bumpus] also sends us on a sensory tour with her descriptions of the marvellous meals they enjoyed, of course all handmade, regional, and accompanied by superb wine. A true celebration of Italy. I believe that Carole Bumpus is such a successful author because of the love and passion she puts into her books, through her writing the landscapes, architecture, and gastronomy of Italy are brought wonderfully to life. Highly recommended!”—Susan Keefe, TheColumbiaReview.com
“…a delightful romp… This is an intimate and affectionate book (complete with a generous array of local, easy to follow recipes!) that takes us with this energetic couple to experience Italian life as it is lived as well as learn more of the rich history of Italy. ”—Mag Dimond, author of Bowing to Elephants; Tales of a Travel Junkie
“Abundant with Italian culinary traditions of ritual and region, this delightful travel memoir charms and entices. Bumpus is genuinely present in her stories, as if reliving the experiences in real time… Bumpus extends a gracious invitation to join her, with delectable, regional recipes—a shared feast that brings her journey home to us.”—Kate Farrell, author of Story Power: Secrets to Creating, Crafting, and Telling Memorable Stories
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